5 posts tagged “skype”

Okay over the last month there has been all the hype about the 3Skypephone , but if you're not wanting to pay for another phone and/or contract, what's the alternatives on your existing phone?

If you are currently with 3UK network, if you take any of the X-Series add-ons you can get 'Skype for 3' for Skype to Skype calls only included, I noticed all new mix & match contracts now come with Skype included, but if you're not with 3UK netowrk, what can you do?

There are a few other applications which will allow you to use your Skype account to the full, well nearly.

The first is iSkoot application which is like the 'Skype for 3' application in that it dials a national number, but unlike the 3 version where the call charges are included this iSkoot application eats into your monthly call allowance. The one advantage the iSkoot app has over the 3 version is you can use SkypeOut and SkypeIn. This is a good app if you have loads of minutes in your monthly plan and want to call internationally or call 0800 numbers.

The next is Fring, I'd only use Fring if you have a unlimited data package on your account or access to wifi. Fring uses Skype in mostly the same way as you would use it on a PC over the internet. You can do Skype to Skype, SkypeOut, but not SkypeIn, you will only be charge for the data usage and the relevant Skype call charge. I've got X-Series on my 3 account, so use Fring to call 0800 numbers mostly for FREE.

Oh, unlike the 'Skype for 3' version both iSkoot and Fring can handle Skype Chat, so come on 3UK give us an update to 'Skype for 3'?

Download
Skype for 3
iSkoot
Fring for N73
Fring for N95

I've found a few more applications for the 3Skypephone I thought might come in handy for a few people.
jZipMan
Converter
mWallet
GoDiary
RSSReader
SysInfo
Wikipedia
SkyMobile_SonyWithoutTV

Download
LINK

Note to self: I need to get back into looking at S60 applications, so will need to put down the 3Skypephone if I can?

Had the new 3Skypephone for over a week now, so what does gerrymoth think of it?

"I like the 3Skypephone", there I said it, I know I shouldn't, but I do.

When I first got this phone I started to compare it against the current phones I've got, the N73 and N95. I thought it looked a bit cheap and wasn't so advanced, but that's a bit unfair to compare it against the more advanced Nokia phones, or is it?

Skype calls work great on the 3Skypephone, just like they do on my N73/N95, but its the Skype Chat I'm even happier with, I was always switching between Skype and MSN to communicate with my family, now its all in one place. Not that I'll stop using MSN or Yahoo Messenger (Well not until everyone I know switches to Skype).

Now I could do most of the same basic things on the 3Skypephone that I can do on the N73/N95, like Call, Text, Chat (Skype chat built-in and MSN/Yahoo/AIM using Mig33 application), take photos/videos (well at a reduced capacity seeing the 3Skypephone has a 2MP Camera and VGA Video) and access the internet (Using Opera Mini).

Now the 3Skypephone doesn't have a FM Radio or ability to play the internet radio streams I listen to, but it has a good MP3 Player which seems to mimic the nokia music player in that it lists by Artist, Album, etc.. and I can watch streaming videos (m.YouTube.com) and 3's live TV (3's Mobile TV add-on for £2 per month).

Bluetooth works fine on the 3Skypephone pairing to PC, other phones and my BT Headset. One thing I did notice and like was when I paired my N73 to the 3Skypephone, using the 3Skypephone and connecting to the N73 you can see everything on the N73's external memory card and transfer it over if you want.

Now looking at the phone again, I don't think its cheap looking anymore and for £50 as a PAYG phone, its beautiful and its a bargain.

Oh, and I gave the other phone to my 10 year old daughter to test out for me. She's never had a mobile phone before, but she picked up how to use it very easily for Skype Calls & Chat, normal Calls & Chat and generally calling or sending MMS with her singing on it to me constantly, so much so I took it off her on Sunday night as she was doing my head in. Still shows the phone is very easy to use and I'll give her it back if she's good.

PS: I want the new Skype application on my N73 so I can chat, please 3 and Skype?

Okay, just a quick blog on the new 3Skypephone, will post more tonight hopefully, so been playing around with my 3Skypephone since the start of the week. Now those nice people at 3 have put £30 credit on this PAYG little phone, so first thing I did was buy the Internet add-on for £5pm, so £25 credit left. This internet add-on has a fair usage of 1GB, I think, so what to use it for as the built-in web browser is a mobile version?

Lets install Opera Mini V4.0 Beta 3 (mini.opera.com/beta) and have near like full internet access, lets install Google Mail java app (www.gmail.com/app), lets install Google Maps java app (www.google.com/gmm), lets install Mig33 java app (wap.mig33.com) for MSN/Yahoo/AIM messenger.
Now a £50 PAYG with £10 min top-up and you can use £5 of that top-up for internet is a bargain, still to try if you can use as a modem, will do this tonight and get back to you. Will be searching through www.getjar.com tonight to see what other useful java apps I can install on the phone.

The always on Skype app which reconnects you automatically if you switch between 2G & 3G areas works a treat for both Calls (4000 mins allowance) & Chat (10000 message allowance).

Oh and normal mobile calls and text works okay as well!

	WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ISKOOT FOR SKYPE? > Stay Connected: iSkoot keeps you connected to your Skype community, so you can reach out to friends, family and business colleagues all over the world ANYTIME. > Get Mobile: iSkoot lets you leave your PC behind! You can enjoy your Skype calling and chat features on-the-go, whenever! > Get Presence: With Skype online status information, you can see who's available to call or chat, and also change your own online status to let others know if YOU'RE free. > Keep it Easy: Click on a contact, and you're connected! iSkoot doesn't use a cumbersome "Call Back" system – so when you're ready to talk, just click to call. > Get it FREE: iSkoot software is free to download on our website.		What is Skype? Learn more. Purchase SkypeOut credits   Is your handset supported? Click here to find out!
	WHAT DOES IT COST TO USE ISKOOT?* Making a Skype-to-Skype call: Airtime + A little bit of Data When you call a Skype contact on your mobile phone, it costs the same as making a local call – so depending on your mobile calling plan, normal airtime charges may apply. Once you're connected to the Skype network, your call works like a regular voice call from your phone. (iSkoot does NOT connect the call using the cellular data channel.) iSkoot also uses a small amount of data to keep the status of your contacts updated. Making a SkypeOut call: Airtime + Standard SkypeOut Rates + A little bit of Data When making a SkypeOut call using iSkoot, the same basic costs apply as making a Skype-to-Skype call noted above (which means that normal airtime charges may apply, plus some data to keep contact status information updated). In addition, Skype charges the applicable SkypeOut connection rates to connect the call to a regular telephone line, just as they would if the SkypeOut call originated from your PC. Receiving a Skype Call: Airtime + Skype Mobile Call Forwarding Rates + A little bit of Data When you receive an incoming Skype call on your mobile phone, the same basic costs apply as making a Skype-to-Skype call noted above (which means that normal airtime charges may apply, plus some data to keep contact status information updated). In addition, your SkypeOut account will be charged at Skype's call forwarding rates for mobile numbers. Using Skype Text Chat: A little bit of Data + Some SMS Messages When you use Skype text chat on your mobile phone, the service uses your data connection to exchange messages with your chat buddies. In order to notify you immediately when a new chat message is received, iSkoot may send the software on your phone a special SMS message telling it to retrieve the newest message from the server. (Any special chat-related SMS messages won't clog up your Inbox, either!) Please Note: Your phone number or mobile plan must be based in one of our supported countries. If you are roaming internationally or don't live in one of our supported countries, calls using iSkoot will be more expensive.

I really only started using this application for Skype chat to my daughter, but have used it to dial 0800 numbers from my phone which I would be charged for from 3.

NOTE: This hasn't got anything to do with the Skype Product Launch on Monday, it just made me remember I hadn't mentioned this application on the blog before.

Download
LINK